Tourism big guns among State’s best

The region’s tourism businesses have brought home a swag of trophies from the industry’s peak annual awards night for WA.

The Ord Valley Muster was inducted into the hall of fame for the second time for winning three golds within five years.

It was last inducted into the hall in 2011 for pulling off a similar feat and was also included in 2008 when it was just the one night Kimberley Moon Experience rather than the fully fledged festival it has become.

Other East Kimberley winners on the night included the Kununurra Country Club Resort, which won gold in the deluxe accommodation category ahead of the Tradewinds Hotel in Fremantle and the Four Points by Sheraton in Perth.

Resort manager Fiona Kuiper said the business just missed out on a bronze award by half a point last year.

“Between gold and being a finalist, there is usually only two or three points in it,” she said.

Mrs Kuiper did not know how to compute the win and was still processing it after the weekend.

“When you’re regional and live in a little bubble all of our own up here to a degree, it (the awards) lets you know where you stand in your category across the State, when you look at who’s nominated, the best of the best across the State have put themselves forward,” she said.

“So you know you have product here in Kununurra and Kimberley that is the best of what WA has to offer.

“All the gold winners go onto the national awards in February and they’re being held in Perth.”

Mrs Kuiper said it had been a good night for Kununurra overall off the back of being voted the No.1 regional destination recently.

The Kimberley Croc Motel was awarded a silver for the standard accommodation category in its first year nominating under its new name and branding.

Kimberleyland Waterfront and Holiday Park won its third silver in three years in its category.

Aviair and Helispirit cleaned up with several awards including a bronze for the new business section for Bungle Bungle Guided Tours.

Managing director Michael McConachy said the operators worked in a stunning part of the world and wanted to see more people coming to the region.

“We strive to deliver the best tourism experiences across the group and our team of dedicated staff are truly second to none,” he said.